4-6october, 2021

Characterization of the energy potential of photovoltaic/thermal

systems using the finite difference method to meet demand in
northeastern Brazil
Lima, AA.S.1,3*; Matheus, H.O.D.2; Santos, C.A.C.1; Silva, H.C.N.2,3; Costa, J.A.P.2,3; Tiba, C.3; Oliveira,
E.G.C.2,3, Leite, G.N.P.2,3; Ochoa, A.A.V.2,3.
1
Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa - PB - Brasil - CEP: 58051-900
2
Federal institute of technology of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Luiz Freire, 500, Recife/PE - CEP: 50740-540
3
Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Recife - PE - CEP: 50670-901
*
Corresponding author: alvaroaugusto_18@hotmail.com

Abstract
Climate change and the threat of scarcity of products essential to human life have led humanity to
change how it produces and consumes energy. One of the most promising ways to source energy is
from the sun, which can be used in the photovoltaic form to generate electrical energy and thermally
for heating and powering systems. In this context, this article's objective is to numerically analyze the
energy potential of the Northeast Brazilian region in the application of photovoltaic/thermal systems.
The analyzed system consists of a photovoltaic module and a solar thermal collector attached to the
previous module's back. A mathematical model was developed through the balances of mass and
energy, and the characteristics of solar and photovoltaic collectors, and considering the solar radiation
data from the Northeast region of Brazil. Initially, a radiation curve over a characteristic day for the
cities analyzed was constructed. For solving the mass and energy equations of the photovoltaic/thermal
system, the finite difference method was used, through the discretization of the equations in the explicit
mode using the Matlab computational platform, to determine the temperature distribution profiles along
with the different layers of the PV/T system. The results showed that the addition of a solar collector at
the back of the photovoltaic module results in an increase of 9.16% in the production of electrical power
in the months of lower production, causing the system to reach an electrical efficiency of 15.75%. This
computational model allowed to characterize a solar park to activate polygeneration systems in a total
and/or partial way, according to the proposed system's specific characteristics.
Keywords: Photovoltaic/Thermal system, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Energetic Potential.

1. Introduction

The climatic changes caused by the way the world population has been developing in the last decades
made it necessary to make changes in the means of production and consumption of energy for a more
efficient and conscious way. Among the forms of energy production, solar energy stands out, ranging
from the production of electrical energy in the photovoltaic modules, to the production of thermal
energy in solar collectors.
However, the installation of systems in isolation for thermal and electrical production demands a
considerable area, be it residential, industrial or hotels. In addition, the photovoltaic modules have their
efficiency reduced with the increase in temperature and with the departure from the ideal installation
condition.
An alternative to the area demanded is the use of a photovoltaic/thermal system, as it requires a smaller
area to produce energy [3]. In addition to the benefits presented above, the installation of the solar
collector on the back of the photovoltaic module leads to a reduction in the operating temperature of
the photovoltaic cell, thus improving the electrical and global efficiency of the system [4].
Due to the reasons mentioned above, this work aims at the numerical study of photovoltaic / thermal
systems installed in northeastern Brazil, more precisely in the city of João Pessoa, using Matlab. This

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 Sixth International Conference on Polygeneration – ICP 2021

work will contribute to a survey of thermal and electrical generation data for the city of João Pessoa
using a system with simpler and cheaper construction than other PV/T systems available, but with
satisfactory results, so that in the next steps it is possible to analyze the insertion of the PV/T system in
a polygeneration system capable of generating steam, ice water and electricity.

2. Simulation

The study presented in this work was carried out through Matlab and consists of two methodologies.
The first is a radiation model implemented with the objective of obtaining the radiation incident on the
system's surface with 2 m2 of superficial area for different orientation and inclination conditions. The
second methodology uses the finite difference method to determine the temperature distribution in all
layers of the thermal photovoltaic system shown in figure 1 and thus determine the electrical energy
produced and the heat absorbed by the water circulating in the collector.

Figure 1: PV/T system studied.

The radiation model was based on the studies presented by [5-6] where the total radiation incident on
the surface of the module is given by equation 1, while the model for the temperature distribution and
thermal exchanges of the system had as a reference the works of [5] and [1].

1+cos(𝛽) 1−cos(𝛽)
𝐺 = (𝐺ℎ − 𝐺𝑑 )𝑅𝑏 + 𝐺𝑑 ( ) + 𝜌𝑔 𝐺ℎ ( ) (Eq.1)
2 2

Where 𝐺𝑑 , 𝐺ℎ are instantaneous diffuse and hemispheric radiations respectively and are obtained using
equations 2 and 3. While 𝜌𝑔 is the reflectivity of the soil and 𝛽 is the slope of the system.

𝐺𝑑 = 𝑟𝑑 𝐻𝑑 (Eq.2)

𝐺ℎ = 𝑟ℎ 𝐻ℎ (Eq.3)

𝑅𝑏 is the ratio of the cosines of the angle of incidence that the sun's rays make on the surface of the
module and the angle of zenith given by the equation 4.

cos⁡(𝜃)
𝑅𝑏 = (Eq.4)
cos⁡(𝜃𝑧 )

𝐻ℎ in turn is the average daily monthly hemispheric radiation obtained through the collection of
experimental data on the website of the Brazilian Meteorological Institute (INMET). Using these data,
it is possible to calculate the diffuse radiation using the equation 5.

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 Sixth International Conference on Polygeneration – ICP 2021

𝜋 𝜋 (𝐾𝑇 −0.9)
𝐻𝑑 = (0.775 + 0.347(𝜔𝑠 − 90) ( )− (0.505 + 0.261 ( ) (𝜔𝑠 − 90)) cos⁡(360 )) 𝐻ℎ
180 180 𝜋
(Eq.5)
Where 𝜔𝑠 is the angular hour at which the sun sets and is given by equation 6 and 𝐾𝑇 is the average
lightness index given through the equation 7.

𝜔𝑠 = arccos⁡(−tan⁡(𝜙)tan⁡(𝛿)) (Eq.6)

𝐻ℎ
𝐾𝑇 = (Eq.7)
𝐻𝑜

Where 𝐻𝑜 is extraterrestrial radiation and can be calculated using the equation 8.

𝜏𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝜋𝜔𝑠
𝐻𝑜 = ( ) 𝐺𝑒𝑓 cos(𝜙) cos(𝛿) (𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑠 ) − ) cos(𝜔𝑠 ) (Eq.8)
𝜋 180

Since 𝜏𝑑𝑎𝑦 is the duration of the day in seconds, 𝐺𝑒𝑓 is the effective radiation, 𝜙 the latitude of the
location and 𝛿 is the solar declination. Finally, to calculate the diffuse and hemispheric radiation
presented in equations 2 and 3 equations 9 and 10 are used.

𝜋 cos(𝜔)−cos⁡(𝜔𝑠 )
𝑟𝑑 = ( ) 𝜋𝜔 (Eq.9)
𝜏𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑠 )− 𝑠 cos(𝜔𝑠 )
180

𝑟ℎ = (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔))𝑟𝑑 (Eq.10)

Where variables a and b can be obtained using equations 11 and 12 respectively and 𝜔 is the hour angle.

𝑎 = 0.4090 + 0.5016𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑠 − 60) (Eq.11)

𝑏 = 0.6609 + 0.4767𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑠 − 60) (Eq.12)

The calculation of the temperature distribution and heat flow in each layer can be done by means of the
energy balance, where for the glass layer it is given by equation 13.

𝑑𝑇𝑣
𝑚𝑣 𝑐𝑣 = 𝑄𝑣 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑣−𝑎𝑖𝑟 + 𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑣−𝑎𝑖𝑟 + 𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑣−𝑝𝑣 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑣−𝑝𝑣 (Eq.13)
𝑑𝑡

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Table 1: Heat fluxes in the first layer.

𝑄𝑣 = 𝛼𝑣 𝐺𝐴𝑣 𝛼𝑣 : Absorptivity
G: Solar radiation
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑣−𝑎𝑖𝑟 = ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝐴𝑣 (𝑇𝑎 − 𝑇𝑣 ) 𝐴𝑣 : Surface area
ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟 : Convective coefficient of the environment
𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑣−𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 𝜀𝐴𝑣 𝜎(𝑇𝑎4 − 𝑇𝑣4 ) 𝑇𝑎 : Ambient temperature
𝑇𝑣 : Glass temperature
4 − 𝑇4
𝑇𝑝𝑣 𝑣 𝜀: Emissivity
𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑣−𝑝𝑣 = 𝐴𝑣 𝜎
𝜀𝑣−𝑝𝑣 𝜎: Stefan-Boltzmann constant
𝑇𝑝𝑣 : PV module temperature
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑣−𝑝𝑣 = ℎ𝑣−𝑝𝑣 𝐴𝑣 (𝑇𝑝𝑣 − 𝑇𝑣 ) 𝜀𝑣−𝑝𝑣 : Average emissivity of glass and photovoltaic module
ℎ𝑣−𝑝𝑣 : Convective coefficient

Where 𝑄𝑣 , 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑣−𝑎𝑖𝑟 , 𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑣−𝑎𝑖𝑟 , 𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑣−𝑝𝑣 and 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑣−𝑝𝑣 are the radiation incident on the glass
surface, the exchange of heat between the glass and the air, the radiation emitted by the glass to the
environment, heat exchange by radiation and by convection between the glass and the photovoltaic cells
respectively. For the layer composed of photovoltaic cells, the energy balance can be obtained using
equation 14.

𝑑𝑇𝑝𝑣
𝑚𝑝𝑣 𝑐𝑝𝑣 = 𝑄𝑝𝑣 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑝𝑣−𝑣 + 𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑣 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑎𝑡 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 (Eq.14)
𝑑𝑡

Table 2: Heat fluxes in the second layer.

𝑄𝑝𝑣 = (𝛼𝜏)𝑝𝑣 𝐺𝐴𝑝𝑣 (𝛼𝜏)𝑝𝑣 : Effective absorbance-transmittance of the
photovoltaic glass-cell assembly
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑝𝑣−𝑣 = ℎ𝑝𝑣−𝑣 𝐴𝑝𝑣−𝑣 (𝑇𝑣 − 𝑇𝑝𝑣 ) 𝐴𝑝𝑣 : Photovoltaic panel surface area
𝐾𝑎𝑡 : Thermal absorber cover
𝐴𝑝𝑣 𝜎(𝑇𝑣4 − 𝑇𝑝𝑣
4 )
𝛿𝑎𝑡 : Thickness of the thermal absorber
𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑣 =
𝜀𝑝𝑣−𝑣 𝑇𝑎𝑡 : Heat absorber temperature
𝛿𝑝𝑣𝐿
𝐾𝑎𝑡 𝐹𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜 = 𝑋𝑝 𝛿𝑎𝑑𝛿𝑝𝑣
+
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑎𝑡 = 𝐴 (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑝𝑣 ) 2𝑘𝑝𝑣 𝐷𝑜 𝑘𝑎𝑑
𝛿𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑣−𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑊
𝑋𝑝 =
4
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜 = 𝐹𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 (𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 − 𝑇𝑝𝑣 ) 𝑊: PV/T system width

Where 𝑄𝑝𝑣 , 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑝𝑣−𝑣 , 𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑣 , 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑎𝑡 and 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑣−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 are the heat flows due to radiation
incident on cells , convection between glass and photovoltaic cells, exchange of radiation between glass
and photovoltaic cells, heat conduction between photovoltaic cells and the thermal absorber and
conduction between photovoltaic cells and piping. For the layer, composed of thermal absorber, the
energy balance can be obtained according to equation 15.

𝑑𝑇𝑎𝑡
𝑚𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑡 = 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑖𝑠𝑜 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑣 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 (Eq.15)
𝑑𝑡

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 Sixth International Conference on Polygeneration – ICP 2021

Table 3: Heat fluxes in the third layer.

2𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑜 : Thermal conductivity of insulation
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑖𝑠𝑜 = 𝐴 (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑎𝑡 )
𝛿𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑎𝑡−𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝛿𝑖𝑠𝑜 : Insulation thickness
𝐴𝑎𝑡−𝑖𝑠𝑜 : Contact area between insulation and heat
𝑘𝑎𝑑 absorber
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑣 = 𝐴 (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑎𝑡 )
𝛿𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑣 𝑝𝑣 𝑇𝑖𝑠𝑜 : insulation temperature
𝑇𝑎𝑡 : Heat absorber temperature
2𝑘𝑎𝑡 𝑘𝑎𝑑 : Adhesive conductivity
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 𝛿 𝐿(𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜 − 𝑇𝑎𝑡 )
𝑋𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝛿𝑎𝑑 : Adhesive thickness
𝐴𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑣 : Contact area between the thermal absorber
and the photovoltaic panel
𝑘𝑎𝑡 : Conductivity of the thermal absorber
𝛿𝑎𝑡 : Thickness of the thermal absorber
𝑊−𝐷𝑒𝑥𝑡
𝑋𝑎𝑡 =
4
𝐷𝑜 : Outside diameter of the pipe

Where 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑖𝑠𝑜 , 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑣 and 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑎𝑡−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 are the conduction heat flux between the thermal
absorber and the insulation, conduction between the thermal absorber and the cells photovoltaic and the
conduction between the thermal absorber and the tube respectively. The fourth layer, composed of 10
tubes, presents the energy balance presented in equation 16.

𝑑𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒
𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑐𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑎𝑡 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑝𝑣 +𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑖𝑠𝑜 (Eq.16)
𝑑𝑡

Table 4: Heat fluxes in the fourth layer.

ℎ𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 : Convective water coefficient
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = ℎ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 − 𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 )
𝐴𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 : Contact area between
2𝑘𝑎𝑡 tube and water
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑎𝑡 = 𝛿 𝐿(𝑇𝑎𝑡 − 𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 )
𝑋𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 : Water temperature
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑝𝑣 = 𝐹𝑇𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜 (𝑇𝑝𝑣 − 𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 ) 𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 : Pipe temperature
𝐴𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑖𝑠𝑜 : Contact area between pipe
2𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑜
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑖𝑠𝑜 = 𝐴𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑖𝑠𝑜 (𝑇𝑖𝑠𝑜 − 𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 ) and insulation
𝛿𝑖𝑠𝑜
𝜋
𝐴𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑖𝑠𝑜 = 𝑁𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 ( + 1) 𝐷𝑜 𝐿
2

Where 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜−á𝑔𝑢𝑎 , 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜−𝑎𝑡 , 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜−𝑝𝑣 and 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜−𝑖𝑠𝑜 are the convection heat flows
between the pipe and water, conduction between the tube and the thermal absorber, conduction between
the tube and the photovoltaic cells and conduction between the tube and the insulation respectively. The
fifth layer of the system is composed of insulation and its energy balance can be given through equation
17.

𝑑𝑇𝑖𝑠𝑜
𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑜 = 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑡 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑖𝑟 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 (Eq.17)
𝑑𝑡

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Table 5: Heat fluxes in the fifth layer.

𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑡 =
2𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑜
𝐴 (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖𝑠𝑜 ) ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑖𝑟 : Convective coefficient between
𝛿𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑎𝑡−𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑎𝑡
insulation and ambient air
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑖𝑟 = ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝐴𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑖𝑟 (𝑇𝑎𝑚𝑏 − 𝑇𝑖𝑠𝑜 )
2𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑜
𝐴𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑖𝑟 : Contact area between insulation and air
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 𝐴 (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖𝑠𝑜 )
𝛿𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑖𝑠𝑜 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒

Where 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑡 , 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑎𝑖𝑟 and 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑖𝑠𝑜−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 are the heat fluxes due to the conduction between
the insulation and the thermal absorber, convection between the isolation and environment and
conduction between the tube and isolation respectively. The sixth layer is composed of water and its
energy balance is obtained through equation 18.

𝑑𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑚𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑄𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 + 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 (Eq.18)
𝑑𝑡

Table 6: Heat fluxes in the sixth layer.

𝑄𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑚𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟−𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 − 𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟−𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 ) 𝑚𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 : Mass flow of water
𝑐𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 : Specific heat of water
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = ℎ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒−𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑇𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 − 𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ) 𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟−𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 : Water inlet temperature
𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟−𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 : Outlet water temperature

Where 𝑄𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 and 𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣,𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟−𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 are the heat absorbed by the water and the heat flow by convection
between the water and the pipe respectively.
Electric [3] and thermal [2] efficiencies. of the system can be obtained through equations 19 and 20
respectively.

𝜂𝑝𝑣 = 𝜂𝑟 (1 − 𝛾𝑝𝑣 (𝑇𝑝𝑣 − 𝑇𝑟 )) (Eq.19)

Where 𝛾𝑝𝑣 is the temperature coefficient of the photovoltaic module and according to [3] 0.0045ºC can
be used, while 𝑇𝑟 is the reference temperature at which the module is tested.

𝑄𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝜂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑚 = (Eq.20)
𝐴𝑣 𝐺

3. Results and discussion

In this topic, the results obtained by applying the methodology described above will be presented. The
electrical power produced by the PV/T system with and without water flow inside the collector, the
thermal energy absorbed by the water and the resulting efficiency of the system will be evaluated.
Figure 2 shows the radiation curve affecting the PV/T system when this is oriented to the north and
inclined at 7.17º (value corresponding to the location's latitude). It is possible to observe the variation
in the radiation of the system over the year with a maximum value in November of 887.63W/m 2, and a
minimum value in July of 670.62W/m2, which corresponds to a difference 32.36% between the two
months.

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Figure 2: Curves of radiation incident on the system throughout the year.

It is possible to observe in figure 3 that the months of greatest power generation are September, October
and November with a maximum value of 194.4W, while the months of least power generation are June
and July with a maximum value of 155W, these values occur due to the intensity of radiation incident
on the surface, as shown in figure 2. This power generation in the months with the highest incidence of
radiation (consequently higher temperatures) coincide with the months with the highest electrical
demand in the hotel and hotel sector in the city of João Pessoa, as well as in homes due to the use of air
conditioning equipment. The average annual generation for the system was 54.25W.

Figure 3: Power curves generated throughout the year by the system oriented to the north and inclined
at 7.17º without water flow.
Figure 4 shows the result for the electrical power produced by the PV/T system over the months of the
year. The results show that the months of September, October and November have the greatest potential,
with the maximum value of 210.7W being reached in the last month. On the other hand, the months of
June and July have the lowest power generation values, reaching a maximum value of 169.2W in these
months at the time of best generation. At the end of a year, having the system operated for twenty-four
hours, the annual average of the system reaches a value of 57.82W. When compared with the results
shown in figure 3, an increase in power generation of 8.38% is obtained for the months of greatest
generation and 9.16% for the months of lowest generation. The annual average in turn shows an increase

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of 6.58%. In addition to the increase in electric energy generation, as the PV/T system is being adopted,
there is a coupled thermal energy generation, allowing its use for residential or industrial water heating,
with the possibility of using it in the activation of absorption chillers.

Figure 4: Power curves generated throughout the year by the system oriented to the north and inclined
at 7.17º with water flow.

Figure 5 presents the results for the absorption of thermal energy by the water that circulates in the solar
collector. It is possible to observe that the month of November has the highest absorption of thermal
energy with a maximum value of 565.7W, while the month of least absorption is the month of July,
with a value of 241W. On the other hand, the annual average of the system reached a value of 98.65W.
This thermal energy absorbed in the solar collector allows the heating of water, which for the 0.005kg/s
flow rate adopted in this work allows the elevation of the leaving water temperature to values between
40ºC and 60ºC, allowing its use in different applications, from residential, for heating bath water or
swimming pools, to industrial use for pre-heaters and power source for absorption chillers.

Figure 5: Thermal power curve absorbed by the system oriented to the north and inclined 7.17º.

The thermal and electrical efficiency curves of the system are shown in figures 6 and 7 respectively.

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Figure 6: Thermal efficiency curve of the system inclined at 7.17º, oriented to the north.

Figure 6 shows that the months of best thermal efficiency for the system are March and November, with
a maximum value of 35%, this is due to the high radiation and temperatures reached in these months in
the city of João Pessoa, allowing the thermal energy absorbed by the collector to be transferred to the
working fluid without major losses to the environment. On the other hand, the months of least efficiency
are July with a maximum value of 18% due to the mild temperatures in that month, which leads to large
losses of thermal energy to the environment, mainly through convection.
Figure 7 in turn shows the electrical efficiency of the system for the months of the year. It is possible
to observe that the lowest efficiency values occur in the month of November with a minimum of
14.55%, while the best electrical efficiency occurs in the month of July, with a value of 15.75%. The
values reached here occur in the opposite way to those reached in figure 6. Due to the high temperature
reached in the photovoltaic cells, the electrical efficiency of the system presents lower values in the
months of higher incidence of temperature, shown by the slope of the curve as the day reaches the times
of highest temperature.

Figure 7: Electric efficiency curve of the system inclined at 7.17º, oriented to the north.

4. Conclusions

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The results show that the inclusion of a solar collector on the back surface of the photovoltaic module
generates a gain in the production of electrical power, reaching a gain percentage of 8.38% for the months
of greatest generation, 9.16% for the months of lowest generation and the annual average shows an increase
of 6.58%.
As for the absorption of thermal energy, the system has a higher value in the month of November, being
equal to 565.7W, which represents an increase in the overall efficiency of the system.
A maximum thermal efficiency value of 35% was reached between the months of April and June, while
the best electrical efficiency occurs in the month of July, with a value of 15.75%.
Finally, a thermal efficiency of 18% was achieved in the months of lesser absorption, while the electrical
efficiency in November was the minimum of 14.55%.

Acknowledgments
The first author thanks the Capes for the doctorate’s and master’s degree scholarship and also the Post-
Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering at UFPE/UFPB for the opportunity to develop his project.
This study was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel –
Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001

References

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2. T. T. CHOW, A review on photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar technology. Applied Energy, v. 87, n.
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3. A. FUDHOLI, et al. Performance analysis of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) water collectors. Energy
Conversion and Management, v. 78, p. 641–651, 2014.
4. M. HU, et al. A parametric study on the performance characteristics of an evacuated flat-plate
photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector. Renewable Energy, n. xxxx, 2020.
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